New Delhi: After turning to Lok Adalats and evening courts to dispose of pending traffic challans, the judiciary and Delhi Traffic Police are now bringing hearings to weekends.As authorities seek to tackle the long-standing backlog of unresolved challans amid a continued surge in enforcement, special weekend courts will begin functioning likely from July 5 across the city. According to sources, the move is expected to improve disposal rates and provide an additional hearing option for motorists who are unable to attend proceedings on weekdays.Delhi’s roads continue to witness a massive volume of traffic violations, with enforcement data highlighting both the scale of offences and the challenge of recovering penalties. According to Delhi Traffic Police figures available till June 15, over 4.3 crore traffic challans and camera-generated notices remain pending, including more than 1 crore on-the-spot challans and 3.3 crore notices issued through automated enforcement cameras.So far this year, traffic police have issued over 42.2 lakh challans and notices through on-ground enforcement and automated cameras. However, nearly 96.5% of them – over 40.7 lakh — remain pending.Among the violations recorded in 2026, improper or obstructive parking topped the list with 12.2 lakh cases, underscoring the persistent problem of vehicles occupying roadsides, intersections and no-parking zones.Driving without a helmet was the second most common offence, accounting for more than 6.7 lakh violations involving riders and pillion passengers. Another 2.3 lakh motorists were penalised for driving without a valid pollution under control certificate (PUCC), reflecting continuing concerns over compliance with road safety and environmental norms.According to sources, 22 benches across Delhi’s 11 district courts will handle the weekend proceedings. Each bench is expected to handle about 700 challan cases daily, with each case potentially involving up to 20 pending challans linked to a particular vehicle.The weekend courts will deal only with compoundable traffic offences. These are relatively minor violations that can be settled by paying a prescribed fine. Non-compoundable offences, which require judicial adjudication because of their serious nature, will not be taken up in these courts.DCP (traffic headquarters) S K Singh said once a challan remains unresolved for a stipulated period, it is transferred to a virtual court depending on the nature of the offence, adding to the growing pendency. While the department already conducts daily evening courts, special evening courts and periodic Lok Adalats to facilitate disposal of pending cases, many working professionals find it difficult to attend proceedings on weekdays.“The weekend courts are being introduced primarily for their convenience,” Singh said.Motorists will also be able to settle challans through digital payment modes, including the Bharat Bill Payment System and UPI, making the process quicker and more citizen-friendly, he added.At present, multiple mechanisms exist for disposal of traffic challans. Eligible challans can be settled online through virtual court, which operates round the clock and does not require physical appearance. Cases requiring judicial intervention are heard in evening courts, which function on working days between 5pm and 7pm. Selected cases are also referred to Lok Adalats for bulk settlement drives.